firefly® chosen by PRISM BioLab to expedite discovery screening workflows

Cambridge, UK, 18 July 2024 – SPT Labtech, a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of automated instrumentation and consumables for life science applications, announces the selection of its firefly all-in-one liquid handling platform by PRISM BioLab, a leading discovery and development biotechnology company in Japan, to accelerate the design of small molecule inhibitors of protein-protein interaction (PPI) targets by automating screening workflows.  

firefly will be integrated into PRISM BioLab’s screening workflows to automate numerous pipetting and transfer steps across 96 and 384-well plates. Automating this process with firefly enhances throughput and efficiency in a cost-effective manner, while reducing the risk of human error and strain associated with repetitive manual liquid handling. 

firefly was chosen as the optimal liquid handling solution for its:
   • Speed and accuracy in dispensing low liquid volumes, thanks to its innovative automated positive displacement technology.
   • Low dead volume requirements, enabling researchers to maximize the use of precious reagents and samples.
   • Operation through intuitive and user-friendly software, simplifying protocol development and execution without requiring a steep learning curve.
   • Compact footprint that utilizes vertical space to consolidate the functionality of multiple instruments into a single benchtop design, allowing to optimize limited lab space effectively.
   • Additional value provided by SPT Labtech’s Field Service Engineers to facilitate the transition to automation.

• PRISM BioLab utilizes proprietary PepMetics® technology to identify small molecule inhibitors of PPI targets, thereby converting previously undruggable targets across cancer, autoimmune, fibrosis and other therapeutic areas intro readily druggable pathways.
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“It’s fantastic to see firefly makes its debut in Japan. The adoption of firefly technology by PRISM BioLab is a true validation of the dedication and expertise of our scientists and engineers in delivering a truly innovative and robust automated liquid handling platform,” says Joby Jenkins, Chief Technology Officer at SPT Labtech. “firefly’s capabilities are well-suited to the repetitive nature of drug discovery screening workflows, empowering laboratories to maximize throughput in such critical areas of diseases with unmet needs.” 

“We chose firefly to expand our screening platform capability. firefly will be utilized in the screening of our PepMetics® small molecule library and in the dose titration assays. Through the several demo opportunities, we realized firefly is easy to handle and is applicable to automation,” says Tatsuya Toma, Chief Technology Officer at PRISM BioLab. “We are confident firefly will minimize our assay optimization steps and accelerate our research projects to identify novel drugs for the patients.”